Bunnell native Johnson gets called up to U.S. national soccer team

Monday

Oct 8, 2012 at 8:42 PM

Florida Palm Coast product and Seattle Sounders soccer player Eddie Johnson has selected to play for the U.S. national team.

NEWS-JOURNAL SERVICES

Bunnell native and Flagler Palm Coast product Eddie Johnson was one of 24 players called up Monday to the U.S. men's national soccer team. Johnson, 28, has spent the season with the Seattle Sounders of the MLS. On Sunday, he scored his 14th goal of the season to help lead Seattle past Portland, 3-0. Johnson will take part in the national team's next two FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Antigua and Barbuda (Sunday) and Gautemala (Oct. 16). Johnson has not played for the national team since May 2010, just before he was cut from the World Cup squad. He appeared twice at the 2006 World Cup, but his career slowed when he left Kansas City to sign with England's Fulham in 2008. He was loaned to Cardiff, Greece's Aris and Preston North End, but returned to MLS this year. “It's been a long road, a lot of hurdles I've had overcome, a lot of adversity I've had to face,” said Johnson, who credited Sounders coach Sigi Schmid for his revival. The U.S. is tied with Guatemala atop Group A with seven points. The two teams have matching totals in goal differential and goals scored. Jamaica also has seven points but is in third place with a lower goal differential and goals scored. While Johnson made the squad, Jozy Altidore was dropped, and Landon Donovan was among the 24 players picked despite injuring his left knee last weekend. Altidore has nine goals in 10 games this season for AZ Alkmaar in the Netherlands, but had little impact during two qualifiers last month. U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann was reportedly critical in an interview last month, saying, “I think Jozy can do a lot better, and he knows that.” Altidore, according to multiple reports, responded with a tweet, which since has been removed, saying: “Love when people try to blame others for their own shortcomings and incompetence.” Klinsmann also bypassed Rapid Vienna's Terrence Boyd, who has seven goals for his club this season, and San Jose's Chris Wondolowski, who is the leading scorer in Major League Soccer with 25 goals, in favor of Johnson and the Earthquakes' Alan Gordon. Donovan was picked despite getting hurt Saturday night and leaving the Los Angeles Galaxy's game with 10 minutes remaining. Anderlecht midfielder Sacha Kljestan returns for the first time since February. Roma's Michael Bradley is back after recovering from a thigh injury, which had sidelined him since August, and having scored his first Series A goal Sunday. The U.S. squad's roster is as follows:GOALKEEPERS: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton) and Nick Rimando (Salt Lake)DEFENDERS: Carlos Bocanegra (Racing Santander), Geoff Cameron (Stoke), Edgar Castillo (Tijuana), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover), Maurice Edu (Stoke), Clarence Goodson (Brondby), Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim) and Michael Parkhurst (Nordsjaelland)MIDFIELDERS: Kyle Beckerman (Salt Lake), Bradley (Roma), Joe Corona (Tijuana), Jermaine Jones (Schalke), Kljestan (Anderlecht), Brek Shea (Dallas), Danny Williams (Hoffenheim) and Graham Zusi (Kansas City)FORWARDS: Clint Dempsey (Tottenham), Donovan (Los Angeles), Herculez Gomez (Santos Laguna), Alan Gordon (San Jose) and Johnson